Method for manufacturing aluminum alloy bus bar, aluminum alloy bus bar, and aluminum alloy material for bus bar

Abstract

During edgewise bending that is carried out on an aluminum alloy bus bar made of an aluminum alloy rectangular wire, an edgewise bending portion is heated to a temperature between 100 and 250° C. inclusive, and within 5 minutes after the heating, edgewise bending is carried out. In the aluminum alloy bus bar, the ratio A/B of Vickers hardness A in a heated portion to Vickers hardness B in a non-heated portion is at least 0.8. If necessary, flatwise bending is further carried out on the aluminum alloy bus bar, forming the bus bar into a predetermined shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing an aluminum alloy bus bar that is formed in a predetermined shape by carrying out edgewise bending and, if necessary, flatwise bending on an aluminum alloy rectangular wire, the method comprising:
 during the edgewise bending, heating a bending portion at a temperature between 100 and 250° C. inclusive and holding the bending portion, and then carrying out the edgewise bending.   
     
     
         2 . The method for producing the aluminum alloy bus bar according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a time period of the holding is 5 minutes or less.   
     
     
         3 . The method for producing the aluminum alloy bus bar according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a material for the aluminum alloy rectangular wire is a T6 thermal refined aluminum alloy material comprising chemical components of Mg: 0.3 to 0.9%, Si: 0.2 to 1.2%, Cu: 0.2% or less, and Fe: 0.5% or less, with a balance consisting of Al and inevitable impurities.   
     
     
         4 . The method for producing the aluminum alloy bus bar according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a bending speed in the edgewise bending is 90°/second or less.   
     
     
         5 . The method for producing the aluminum alloy bus bar according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a portion to be fastened to another component is at a temperature of 150° C. or lower during the heating.   
     
     
         6 . An aluminum alloy bus bar produced by using the method for producing the aluminum alloy bus bar according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a ratio AB of Vickers hardness A in a heated portion to Vickers hardness B in a non-heated portion is at least 0.8.   
     
     
         7 . An aluminum alloy material for a bus bar, wherein the material comprises a straight portion and edgewise bending is to be carried out on the material, the material comprising:
 a recess formed in a portion corresponding to inner periphery of a bending portion for the edgewise bending; and   a projection formed in a portion corresponding to outer periphery of a bending portion for the edgewise bending.   
     
     
         8 . The aluminum alloy material for a bus bar according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the recess is in an arc shape having a radius at least equal to an inner bending radius of an edgewise bending portion, and   wherein a minimum distance between an edge of the recess and an edge of the projection is at least equal to a width of the straight portion.   
     
     
         9 . The aluminum alloy material for a bus bar according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein an area of the projection is at least equal to an area of the recess.   
     
     
         10 . The aluminum alloy material for a bus bar according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the projection comprises a plurality of individual projections.   
     
     
         11 . The aluminum alloy material for a bus bar according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein perimeter of an arc of the projection is longer than perimeter of an arc of the recess.   
     
     
         12 . An aluminum alloy bus bar comprising:
 the aluminum alloy material for a bus bar according to  claim 7 .   
     
     
         13 . A method for producing an aluminum alloy bus bar, the method comprising:
 preparing a bus bar material that comprises a straight portion and an edgewise bending portion being curved by a recess and a projection; and   carrying out edgewise bending on the edgewise bending portion, wherein the recess is on an inner side and the projection is on an outer side.